Monte-Carlo Masters 1000: the great performance of Arthur Rinderknech, who dismisses Karen Khachanov, 14th in the world, in the 1st round

The tournament is off to a good start for the French! Opening this Sunday, the Monte-Carlo Masters 1000 has already provided great emotions for French players. After the stunning victory of Gaël Monfils against Tallon Griekspoor and the qualification of Ugo Humbert in a 100% blue shock against Moïse Kouamé, Arthur Rinderknech joined the Monegasque party this Monday morning.

Opposed to Karen Khachanov in the first rotation on the Court des Princes, the 27th player in the world brought down the No. 12 seed after two controlled sets (7-5, 6-2, in 1h30). Imperturbable on serve (79% of points won behind his first, 5 aces, 1 break point dismissed), the finalist of the Shanghai Masters 1000 last year undoubtedly delivered his best performance of the season.

Towards a shock against Fonseca in the second round?

Pushed by his coach Lucas Pouille and the captain of the French Davis Cup team Paul-Henri Mathieu, in the front row in his box, Rinderknech played his offensive tennis without ever trembling, even when the Russian obtained his only break point of the game, dismissed with a perfectly hit drop shot, at 4-2 in the second set.

While he had so far played – and lost – only one match in the final draw in Monte-Carlo, against Fabio Fognini in 2022, the Frenchman concluded with his second match point obtained on Khachanov’s last service game. In the second round, he will face the winner of the match pitting Canadian Gabriel Diallo against Brazilian crack Joao Fonseca.